I just started kayaking and pretty new at it. I had a guy give me an older Scupper Pro. It's a little faded and I had to patch the drain holes and do some fixing up but I love this boat. Just wonder why they dropped it from their line?

I just started kayaking and pretty new at it. I had a guy give me an older Scupper Pro. It's a little faded and I had to patch the drain holes and do some fixing up but I love this boat. Just wonder why they dropped it from their line?

Don't know why they dropped it, but it's too bad. I paddle one and love it, but on the other hand, I "fit" into it. I like it because it's narrow compared to many other sit on tops, and you sit deeper into it than many others. These traits to me make it easier to control, like a real kayak. It's also fast for it's length and weight.

Those same traits however, are negatives to many other divers I've paddled with. For folks who are larger/heavier, the boat lacks floatation and the seat is too narrow. I've known a number of folks who started with Scuppers and then moved on to larger yaks with more primary stability, especially for diving and fishing.

I bought mine new from Monterey Bay Kayaks. They only had two left and were not getting more. They said people were passing up the scuppers for more modern and more stable models. This might have a lot to do with it's demise.

about a year ago, "kayak angler" ran an article suggesting the same thing, (bring back the supper pro). So you guys aren't alone.

I myself have a trident. I have not paddled a scupper pro, but from what I have read, the seat is lower in the water than in a prowler, (which is very similar to the trident). I already have my butt in the water if I'm not using plugs in the trident, so a scupper sounds like an uncomfortable ride to me.

I myself have a trident. I have not paddled a scupper pro, but from what I have read, the seat is lower in the water than in a prowler, (which is very similar to the trident). I already have my butt in the water if I'm not using plugs in the trident, so a scupper sounds like an uncomfortable ride to me.

I would give it a test paddle though...

As a comparison, each of my sons have a Prowler 13. My wife and I used to do a lot of kayaking before I became a diver, and I paddled a 17' sea lion sit inside.

Anyway, I find the prowler to be wider, with more initial stability than the scupper, but with less secondary stability. To me if feels like you sit more on the prowler where you sit more in the scupper. As a practical example, when coming in to the beach, if I get broached by a wave in the prowler, I'm at the mercy of the wave until I get flipped over. With the scupper, I can side surf it all the way to the beach, even without thigh straps.

The seat well in the scupper is so deep, it actually provides some support for my old lower back. An added seat makes it almost comfy.

As to speed, one day I had a batch of folks, and therefore a batch of boats, out at the lake. I had my GPS in a dry bag and did a lot of paddling. Putting out a given amount of effort with the same paddle, the 13' prowler ran about 1-1.5mph slower than the scupper, and surprisingly the scupper ran at the same speed as the 17' sea lion. Of course with it's upswept bow and stern, the sea lion only has about 13' of wetted profile in calm water.

The two big advantages the prowler has over the scupper are that the prowler has a higher volume and therefore a higher carrying capacity, and it's a more stable fishing and diving platform.

As to a wet ride, yep, it gives it to you. However, I plug the seat and foot holes when I troll for kokanee in our local lakes and unless it's really choppy, the only water I take in is in the tank well area, (which keeps the fish fresh), and in the foot area from getting in and out a lot.

I have a "prowler clone" which is the future beach / Equinox angler kayak that's 13'4" (160") and it's the same top layout as the Prowler... But has their "double hull" design which is slow in the water... But STABLE!

It can hold up to 500 lbs and I often have a dive buddy sit on the back while I paddle out to some depth for training. Anything more than a mile is a real bear like this though.

Great stable boat with TONS of internal storage.

If you want a Prowler that's even more stable / buoyant / robust and has tons of storage... This is the key. I paid $400 Canadian at Costco but I think Dick's has them in the States.

I'd like to try a scupper pro, but not a lot of them here in Ontario. If have better luck out in Vancouver.